Two Roses

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝕰𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙

Audrey was in a small state of panic. She had avoided Blakely all day and she wasn't entirely sure why. She had made the excuse that she was annoyed with the fact that her best friend had thrown herself at a girl mindlessly. Chad was using this as his excuse to trash talk the poor princess to her favorite person.

What really got her was the homophobic remark he had made "And she claims she's gay I mean how does she know? She's never even dated a boy."

Audreys nose scrunched up, "How do you know you're straight? I mean you've never had a girlfriend and I mean a real girlfriend. Not one who just does your homework for you."

Chad barely even blinked; he was well aware that he had never had a real relationship before, "That's different."

"Really? Do tell," she insisted, feigning curiosity.

"It's just natural."

She nodded, "and natural would mean existing in or caused by nature, right?" he nodded wondering where she was going with this, "You know those lions, the very creature everyone calls King of the jungle yeah they can be gay, so are giraffes, and penguins and a ton of other animals. So yeah, being gay," She shrugged "100% natural."

He sputtered, "But- she'll never give the kingdom an heir."

"There are a ton of ways to do that without her marrying a man. It's too vulgar to speak of on school grounds, but it's possible and even if it wasn't she abdicated the throne. Ben will be king; she won't be queen no need to provide and heir."

"Because she knew-"

She cut him off, "no it was because of that line of thinking," She walked ahead to her locker.

Chad sighed, "Why does this bother you anymore? You already said you were mad that she was throwing herself at Evie."

She whipped around and glared, "It shouldn't matter to me or anyone else who Blake likes, she's absolutely perfect just the way she is so be quiet and leave her alone the queen bee has spoken." She put emphasis on the word Queen, reminding him what she was meant to be one day. She was on the path to becoming the queen and he should know that. She rolled her eyes and walked off to her and Lonnie's dorm. She paused in the doorway as she caught sight of Lonnie's hair. "What in the world?"

She turned back to Audrey and smiled, "Do you like it, I had Mal do mine like she did Janes."

"Lonnie, that's gateway magic! It corrupts people."

She waved her off, "Audrey nothing's happened to Jane she's still the same I'm sure if Mal wanted to hurt us, she wouldn't use a hair spell she's way too cunning for that, but enough about that. What's happening between you and Blakely?"

Audrey froze, "Nothing why?"

"You came back from her room last night looking depressed and today when I asked, Raine mentioned that you wouldn't speak to her. What's going on?"

"Just annoyed, that's all. I mean she barely knows Evie."

Lonnie raised an eyebrow, "There are two things in this world you can't do and one of them is lie."

"What's the other thing?"

"Braid hair," Lonnie shrugged,

She shrugged and nodded knowing she was terrible at braiding and was actually the reason Lonnie had cut it so short in the first place, "but really it's nothing important."

"That look in your eyes, that spark, when you're with Blake it's way brighter than when you're with Ben."

She was startled back, "what does Ben have to do with any of this?"

"Audrey, we've known each other since we were six and I'm surrounded by princesses. I know that look, you like her, you have for a while, and it bothers you that Evie's is trying to be with her. The only thing I can't understand is why. Why did you ask Ben out instead of Blake?" She didn't think it would help if she told her just about everyone saw that she was basically in love with the princess. 

She sighed, "When I was a kid my granny was basically giving me princess lessons, and she wouldn't let my parents 'intrude' she told me I had to be perfect. When Blake was going to be the queen there was no traditional way to climb the social ladder so that wasn't a priority. I really liked her, and I was going to ask her out, but then she turned 16 a year before us and abdicated the throne. Granny looked like she wanted to throw a ball. A week before I was going to ask her out, I had a whole thing planned, I walked in on my mom and dad yelling at her. She went behind their backs and had set up a deal with Belle and Adam to betroth me to Ben. I held on to the idea for the awhile, but when it came down to it, I realized how sick it would be I was going to have to marry her brother." By now her eyes were squeezed shut as she stopped tears from falling. "So, I shut those feelings away and never told anyone, not my parents, not Ben, not even Blake. Granny told me that this was the way to bring our family back to the top. So, I have to be the perfect princess; I will be queen one day. I can't let my feelings get in the way of that."

By the end Lonnie's eyes were wide Audrey couldn't tell if it was anger, terror, or shock. "Audrey, you need to be honest with yourself. You may be fine now but how is it gonna feel in a year, five years, ten years down the line. You're gonna be miserable. It's possible to gain real feeling from an arranged marriage, but how can you fall in love with Ben if the what if is always dangling in the background always dressed to the nines in a gowns and jewels."

Audrey sighed a bit and smiled, "It's not a gown, it's a suit," she said lowly.

"You like her in suits," Lonnie said with a sad smiled. "This isn't good for any of you. Look, just sleep on it okay? Think about what I said, the coronations in a month. It's so close that Ben is already basically in charge. I'm sure if you explained the situation, he would understand I mean you haven't even kissed yet. I'm sure he's not that attached."

The princess glared at the ground but nodded along and agreed to sleep on it. "I want some strawberries. How late is it?"

"Very, you were doing homework with Chad for a while. We shouldn't run into anybody." They both made their way to the kitchen unaware that at the same time a sleepy princess planned on making Ice cream cookie sandwiches and the four new students were baking up a villainous plan. 

Can you tell I hate Queen Leah?  A little more Audrey sugar 

Published: June 22th, 2022

Edited: June 14th, 2023

~DarkVixen